Guide for Artists

Guide for artists is aimed at professional artists who often work as freelancers. It provides answers to questions about social security and related taxes as well as business matters and tax returns.

As a freelancer, you can have temporary jobs and declare your salary as earned income or you can freelance through your own company. For example, you might have a sole trader company or have started a limited liability company where only you are employed.

Many artists earn income from both employment and their own business. In many cases, it is the client who decides in what form they want to hire you for an assignment. People with mixed income sources are usually referred to as hybrid entrepreneurs.

The Swedish Arts Grants Committee is tasked by the government to monitor and analyse artists’ economic and social conditions as well as the conditions for artistic creation. We also inform about the rules that apply to you as a professional artist. In this guide, we have gathered information about social security, taxes and business matters among other things.

On the Move and Mobility Information Point

The Swedish Arts Grants Committee, through the Guide for Artists, is a Mobility Information Point (MIP) within the international network On the Move. As part of this network, we collaborate with similar organizations in Europe and the United States to support artists and cultural professionals who plan to work across borders.

We provide information on administrative matters such as visas, taxes, social security, customs regulations, and other practical aspects of international mobility. Through our collaboration with other MIPs, we can also refer you to the appropriate organization in the country you plan to visit.

You can find more information about how the network operates on the On the Move website. We also offer general guidance for artists based in, for example, the United Kingdom, but always recommend that you contact a MIP in the country you are travelling to for the most relevant information.